Gripping device for accommodating either male or female components

ABSTRACT

A gripping device which includes an outer housing defining a chamber having an open end into which a plurality of coaxial sleeves centered about a center member is telescopically fitted. The center member and each sleeve are individually spring biased so as to have an end portion which protrudes from the housing chamber open end. The center member and each sleeve are shiftable relative to each other along the axis of the center member between extended and retracted positions to engage various sized protruding and socket type components.

United States Patent Bitantis 1 51 July 22, 1975 [54] GRIPPING DEVICEFOR 3,127,797 4/1964 Rogers 81/185 X ACCOMMODATING EITHER MALE 3,127,7984/1964 G01 81/185 X OR FEMALE COMPONENTS 3,331,619 7/1967 Muelling280/503 X 3,624,811 11/1971 Brackett 280/503 X Inventor: EdwardBitantis, 1639 Howard,

Niles, Mich. 49120 Filed: July 22, 1974 Appl. No.: 490,678

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.396,766, Sept. 13.

1973, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 280/493; 280/460; 280/503; 81/185 [51] Int. Cl. B60D H14[58] Field of Search 280/493, 503; 180/14 C [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,287,955 6/1942 Zunino 280/503 X 2,424,095 7/1947Horton... 280/503 UX 2,735,325 2/1956 Rudd 81/71 Primary ExaminerLeoFriaglia Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Oltsch & Knoblock ABSTRACT 3 Claims,8 Drawing Figures GRIPPING DEVICE FOR ACCOMODATING EITHER MALE OR FEMALECOMPONENTS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is acontinuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 396,766, filed Sept. 13,1973. and now abandoned SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto a gripping device which is usable to engage various sized protrudingand socket type components.

Such a gripping device includes an outer housing having a side walldefining a chamber having an open end. A center member having aplurality of sleeves telescopically fitted thereover is located withinthe housing chamber. The center member and sleeves protrude outwardlyfrom the open end of the chamber. Biasing means serve to urge the centermember and each sleeve into an extended position with each of the centermember and sleeves being shiftable relative to the others into aretracted position to accommodate the male or female component.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device forgripping multiple sized male and female components.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self contained devicefor turning multiple sized bolts or screws.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tow bar for aircraftincorporating a pair of gripping devices which can accommodate both maleand female grip components carried by the aircraft.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading ofthe inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of the gripping device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line,3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gripping device shown inFIG. 1 engaging a socket head screw.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gripping device of FIG. 1engaging a hex head bolt.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the grippingdevice of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of the gripping device of FIG. 6 connected to anaircraft landing gear.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodimentsillustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in orderto explain the principles of the invention and its application andpractical use to thereby enable oth ers skilled in the art to bestutilize the invention.

The gripping device illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is of the wrench type andincludes an outer housing 10 having a side wall 12 and an end wall 14which define a cham ber 16 having an open end oppositely located fromend wall 14. Housing side wall 12 is shown as being multiple sided tofacilitate engagement with a gripping or leverage member for turning thedevice. In other construction of this invention, it is to be understoodthat housing 10 may be constructed so as to fit a socket wrench or havea handle, such as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,262,338, attached theretoto facilitate its turning.

A post or center member 18 and a plurality of sleeves 20 are locatedwithin housing chamber 16. Sleeves 20 fit telescopically over centermember 18 and are coaxial therewith. The cross sectional configurationof each sleeve 20 and center member 18 is non-circular, such as thehexagonal shape illustrated, so as to facilitate engagement, as will belater described, of the center member and sleeves with a fasteningmember. The inner surface of housing side wall 12 is also preferablyconfigured to complementally receive sleeves 20. Center member 18 andeach sleeve 20 are shiftable relative to each other within chamber 16along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the center member.

Center member 18 and sleeves 20 each have an elongated slot 22 formedtherein. A transverse pin 24 extends through slots 22 in the centermember and sleeves and is anchored at each end to housing side wall 12.A plurality of springs 26 or similar biasing means are housed withinchamber 16 and extend between housing end wall 14 and sleeves 20 andshoulder 28 of center member 18 so as to contact and urge the sleevesand center member outwardly into extended positions against pin 24 inwhich the outer end portions of the sleeves and center member protrudefrom the open end of housing chamber 16, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, with theexposed end edges 21 thereof being coplanar. Center member 18 and eachsleeve 20 is biased so as to be individually shiftable relative tohousing 10 from the extended position shown in FIGS. 1-3 into aretracted position in which pin 24 contacts the front edge 30 of theslot 22 therein, such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description of the method of operation ofthe gripping device above described will now follow. In FIG. 4 thedevice is shown making engagement with a multiple sided socket 32 formedin the head 34 of a socket head screw. Center member 18 and perhaps oneor more sleeves 20, depending upon thesize of socket 32, will be causedto enter the socket as end edges 21 of the sleeves are pushed intocontact with screw head 34. The sleeves 20 which have a transversedimension across the outer surfaces thereof exceeding the transversedimension of socket 32 will engage the outer face 35 of head 34 and beretracted or pushed rearwardly into chamber 16 of housing 10, causingcompression of those springs 26 associated with the retracted sleeves.The outer surface of the outermost sleeve 20 which protrudes into socket32 will complementally engage the inner surface of the socket to turnthe fastening means upon rotation of housing 10.

In FIG. 5, the gripping device is shown making contact with the head 36of a hex head bolt 38. When engaging bolt head 36 or a similarprotrusion, center member 18 and perhaps one or more sleeves 20,depending upon the size of the head or protrusion, will be urged fromtheir extended positions into retracted positions, allowing theremaining sleeves to fit over and make engagement with the head orprotrusion. Again, springs 26 allow the center member 18 and thosesleeves having a transverse dimension across the inner surfaces thereofnot exceeding the transverse dimension of bolt heat 36 to shift fromtheir extended into their retracted positions relative to the remainingsleeves.

In tightening a nut upon a bolt, it is common for the threaded end ofthe bolt to extend beyond the nut. Thus, when the gripping devicedescribed in FIGS. l5

is utilized to tighten a nut onto a bolt, one or more sleeves will slideover the nut while one or more of the other sleeves of the device willslide over the protruding threaded end of the bolt and abut the outerface of the nut, thus permitting tightening of the nut with the centermember 18 and sleeves 20 forming a twostepped orientation relative toeach other. To add guiding stability to center member 18 and sleeves 20,the center member may be formed with a coaxial guide part 40 whichextends rearwardly from shoulder 28 of the center member. Guide part 40may fit slidably into an opening 42 in the end wall 14 of housing withsprings 26 concentrically positioned about the guide part.

In FIGS. 6-8 the gripping device of this invention is shown incorporatedinto a tow bar for aircraft. The tow bar 50 illustrated includes rodparts 52 which are hinged together at one end. The opposite end of rodparts 52 carry gripping devices 54 which are of the construction of thegripping device shown in FIGS. 1-5 and which has a plurality oftelescopically interfitting spring biased coaxial sleeves 55 seatedwithin an open ended housing 53 which is secured to rod parts 52. Thesleeves 55 of gripping devices 54 are preferably circular in crosssection and not multiple sided as shown in the previously describedfigures. The relative movement between center member 51, sleeves 55 andouter housing 53 of gripping devices 54 is of the same manner and for asimilar purpose as that described for the gripping device in FIGS. 1-5.The open end of the outer housings 53 of gripping devices 54 areoppositely disposed and normally positioned in a juxtaposed relationshipas that shown in FIG. 6 through the operation of a spring biased linkmember 56 which connects rod parts 52 between gripping devices 54 andthe hinged ends of the rod parts. Spring 57 in link member 56 serves tonormally urge rod parts 52 together. An opening 58 is formed in thehinged ends of rod parts 52 so as to enable a clevis or hook from atowing vehicle to be connected to the tow bar.

Most aircraft have a pair of oppositely positioned sockets 60 orprotruding lugs 61 which form a part of or are secured to its landinggear or similar accessible structural component of the aircraft and towhich the tow bar of this invention can be connected. In FIG. 6 thelanding gear 62 of the aircraft is shown for illustrative purposes bothwith sockets 60 (only one shown) being formed in the hub of the wheel atthe axis thereof and with protrusions or lugs 61 located above thewheel. To connect tow bar 50 to the aircraft, rod parts 52 of the towbar are manually spread apart, causing an extension of biased linkmember 56. Each gripping device 54 has its open end placed over a socket60. Upon the release of rod parts 52, the spring 57 within link member56 will cause gripping devices 54 to be urged toward one another withthose sleeves 55 having transverse dimensions not exceeding thetransverse dimen sion of sockets 60 fitting into the socket and thosesleeves 55 having a transverse dimension exceeding the diameter ofsockets 60 being shifted from their extended into their retractedpositions within the outer housing 53 of the gripping devices 54. With aportion of each gripping device 54 extending into a socket 60 in thelanding gear 62 of the aircraft, a towing means can be connected to theopposite end of the tow bar at opening 58 and the aircraft towed orpushed to a desired location. When utilizing tow bar 50 with aircrafthaving oppositely extending lugs 61 instead of sockets 60, the sleevesof the gripping devices 54 will slide over the protruding lugs in muchthe same fashion as the sleeves of the gripping device shown in FIG. 5slip over the head 36 of bolt 38. In this manner tow bar 50 is adaptedto accommodate various types of cooperating lugs and sockets uponaircraft for the purpose of securing the tow bar to the aircraft inpreparation for towing. It is to be understood that in someconstructions of the tow bar of this invention. a single rod part may beutilized in conjunction with a shiftable leg member with both the rodpart and leg member carrying a gripping device 54. I

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedetails above given but may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A gripping device for towing aircraft, said aircraft having a towconnection including either oppositely extending protrusions oroppositely located outwardly opened socket parts, said gripping devicecomprising an elongated bar means adapted at one end for connection to atow means and having its other end defining a pair of opposed grip meansshiftable toward and away from another, each grip means having an outerhousing, said housing including (a) a side wall defining a chamberwithin said housing with said chamber having an open end and (b) acenter member having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and (c) aplurality of sleeves telescopically fitted about said center member andbeing coaxial therewith with said center member and sleeves fittingwithin said housing chamber and protruding from said chamber at the openend thereof into extended positions and (d) means securing said sleevesand center member to said housing within the chamber thereof with saidsecurement means permitting relative shiftable movement between saidsleeves and center member and (e) biasing means individually urging saidsleeves and center member into said extended positions with each sleevehaving inner and outer surfaces, the outer surfaces of each sleeve andcenter member forming a socket part engaging surface, the inner surfaceof each sleeve forming a protrusion engaging surface, said sleeves andsaid center member being shiftable relative to each other along the axisof the center member between retracted positions wherein said sleevesand center members are shifted further into said housing chambers andsaid extended positions to engage various sized socket parts andprotrusions, said pair of grip means for engaging either said socketparts or protrusions of the aircraft tow connection when shifted towardone another enable said tow means when connected to said bar means totow said aircraft.

2. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said bar means includes tworod parts hinged together at one end, said hinged ends including meansfor connection to said tow means, the opposite end of each rod partcarrying said grip means, the open ends of said housing chambers of thegrip means being opposed, said grip means being shiftable towardand awayfrom one another upon movement of said rod parts about their hingedends, biasing means normally urging said grip means toward one another.

3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein said biasing means includesspring means engaging said rod parts between each of its hinged ends andgripmeans.

1. A gripping device for towing aircraft, said aircraft having a towconnection including either oppositely extending protrusions oroppositely located outwardly opened socket parts, said gripping devicecomprising an elongated bar means adapted at one end for connection to atow means and having its other end defining a pair of opposed grip meansshiftable toward and away from another, each grip means having an outerhousing, said housing including (a) a side wall defining a chamberwithin said housing with said chamber having an open end and (b) acenter member having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and (c) aplurality of sleeves telescopically fitted about said center member andbeing coaxial therewith with said center member and sleeves fittingwithin said housing chamber and protruding from said chamber at the openend thereof into extended positions and (d) means securing said sleevesand center member to said housing within the chamber thereof with saidsecurement means permitting relative shiftable movement between saidsleeves and center member and (e) biasing means individually urging saidsleeves and center member into said extended positions with each sleevehaving inner and outer surfaces, the outer surfaces of each sleeve andcenter member forming a socket part engaging surface, the inner surfaceof each sleeve forming a protrusion engaging surface, said sleeves andsaid center member being shiftable relative to each other along the axisof the center member between retracted positions wherein said sleevesand center members are shifted further into said housing chambers andsaid extended positions to engage various sized socket parts andprotrusions, said pair of grip means for engaging either said socketparts or protrusions of the aircraft tow connection when shifted towardone another enable said tow means when connected to said bar means totow said aircraft.
 2. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said barmeans includes two rod parts hinged together at one end, said hingedends including means for connection to said tow means, the opposite endof each rod part carrying said grip means, the open ends of said housingchambers of the grip means being opposed, said grip means beingshiftable toward and away from one another upon movement of said rodparts about their hinged ends, biasing means normally urging said gripmeans toward one another.
 3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein saidbiasing means includes spring means engaging said rod parts between eachof its hinged ends and grip means.